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James M. Shaffer
James M. Shaffer, a Durango native, died at the age of 81, on Monday, Sept. 1, 2003, in Aurora.
Mr. Shaffer was born on March 24,1922. He was awarded a bachelor of arts degree in accounting and airport management from Denver University.
He married the late Marion Rocello Erwin on Sept. 25, 1943, in El Reno, Okla.; they had a daughter and two sons. Mr. Shaffer pursued a career as executive director of the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment.
He was a member of the Paul Revere Masonic Lodge and the Colorado Consistery Order of Eastern Star.
He is survived by his daughter, Candice Kim Jenkins of Englewood; his sons, James Shaffer II of Pueblo and Richard K. Shaffer of Lakewood; his grandchildren, Collette Schmidt of Lakewood, Nichole M. Klug of Englewood and James B. Shaffer III of Pueblo; and four great-grandchildren.
A memorial service has already taken place in Littleton, and his ashes will be inurned at Fort Logan National Cemetery, Denver.
Anthony Joseph Aaron Todeschi
Anthony Joseph Aaron Todeschi, died Thursday, Aug. 28, 2003, at the Children’s Hospital in Denver.
Anthony was born June 13, 2003, in Durango, the son of Heather Todeschi. Anthony spent his short life in the hospital fighting every day.
His aunt, Shawna Gibson said of Anthony, "He has touched many lives in his few months of life and has left a legacy of love and lessons to live and fight for those who are important to you."
He is survived by his mother, Heather P. Todeschi; his grandparents, Susan and Rick Willden of Elko, Nev.; his grandfather, Joseph Todeschi of Elko, Nev.; his great-grandfather, Herman Todeschi of Bayfield; his great-grandmother, Constance H. Dyke of Santa Rosa, Calif.; his great-grandmother, Marjory Munn of Seattle; one uncle; one aunt; and numerous great-aunts, great-uncles and cousins.
A funeral will be held at 10 a.m. Monday at Hood Mortuary. The Rev. Myron Darmour will officiate. Burial will follow at Greenmount Cemetery in Durango.
Memorial contributions may be made to Ronald McDonald House, c/o Terry Johnson, 1300 E. 21st Ave., Denver CO 80205-5218 or the Children’s Hospital of Denver, 1245 E. Colfax Ave., Suite 400, Denver CO 80218.
Kathleen Quinn O’Rourke
Kathleen Quinn O’Rourke died Wednesday, Sept. 3, 2003, at Mercy Medical Center Hospice. She was 84.
Mrs. O’Rourke moved to Durango in 1998 with her daughter’s family.
She is survived by her four children, Maureen Hawa of New York, Margaret Wilson of San Francisco, Dennis O’Rourke of Washington, D.C., and Pat Scott of Durango; nine grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
She wished to extend the Irish blessing to all: "May the road rise to meet you, May the wind be always at your back, May the sun shine warm upon your face, The rains fall soft upon your fields, Until we meet again."
A memorial service will be held at 10:30 a.m. Saturday at Hood Mortuary followed by a graveside service at Greenmount Cemetery.
Memorial contributions may be made, in lieu of flowers, to either Sacred Heart Church or Hospice of Mercy Medical Center.
Christopher Anthony Minyon
Christopher Anthony Minyon died Sunday, Aug. 31, 2003, at his home in Durango. He was 41.
The cause of death was not disclosed.
Mr. Minyon was born Sept. 1, 1961, in Haddonfield, N.J., the son of Anthony and Nancy (Carpenter) Minyon. He served in the Army and was stationed in Korea where he worked on helicopters. His work enabled him to assist with the search and rescue teams, avalanche control, wildlife counts and firefighting.
Mr. Minyon grew up in Haddonfield, N.J., and graduated from Haddonfield Memorial High School in 1979. He earned his bachelor’s degree from Fort Lewis College in 1986. He remained in the area. He enjoyed and respected the Colorado wilderness. He was an environmentalist. He was also a treasure hunter and an Ultralight pilot. He enjoyed hang gliding and being an Adaptive Sports Association ski instructor at Purgatory.
Family members said they would like to thank "Chris’ beloved friend, Maria Cristina Grabiel for always being there."
He is survived by his father, Anthony J. Minyon of Audubon, N.J.; his mother, Nancy Minyon of Palm Beach, Fla.; two sisters, Michelle Miya-Minyon of Santa Monica, Calif., and Dina Minyon of Oakland, Calif.; his stepmother, Judith Minyon of Audubon, N.J.; his son, Christopher A. Minyon Jr. of Blackwood, N.J.; and friend, Maria Cristina Grabiel of Durango.
Family and friends are invited to celebrate his life at 6 p.m. Saturday at the Lion’s Den overlook on Rim Drive. Everyone then is invited to meet at Storyville to have a "Bud on Chris." In lieu of flowers, his family would like people to "take a hike."
Ruth Beryl Baker Boucher
Ruth Beryl Baker Boucher, 97, died on Tuesday, Sept. 2, 2003, in La Plata County. She died of natural causes, her family said. She was living at the Durango home of her son, Bob Boucher, at the time of her death.
Mrs. Boucher was born Oct. 21, 1905, in Chula, Mo., the daughter of Almeida Slyh and William Hollister Baker.
She graduated Phi Beta Kappa with a bachelor of science from the University of Missouri in 1925.
She earned a master’s degree in botany from the University of Wisconsin in 1927. Then she taught at Mississippi State College for Women and Mt. Holyoke College in Massachusetts before marrying Robert Boucher Sr. in 1931.
Mr. Boucher preceded his wife in death in 1993.
The Boucher family moved to Durango in 1967. Mrs. Boucher and her husband were skiers and outdoor enthusiasts, enjoying the La Plata Mountains.
As a botanist, Mrs. Boucher enjoyed the state’s wildflowers.
"She was a delightful woman who loved taking her grandchildren up into the La Platas when they were young," said Mrs. Boucher’s daughter-in-law, B.J. Boucher. "She would share information about the birds, wildflowers and rocks, and she always ended the outing with apple juice and cheese."
Mrs. Boucher lived at The Bridge, an assisted-living facility in Farmington, before moving back to Durango.
She is survived by her sons David Boucher of Burlington, Vt., and Robert V. Boucher Jr. of Durango; six grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
There will be no ceremonies. Memorial donations may be made to the Hospice of Mercy Medical Center or The Open Space Conservancy of Durango.
Elizabeth ‘Ilse’ Hohnke
Elizabeth "Ilse" Hohnke, 90, died Tuesday, Sept. 2, 2003, at her home in Durango. She died of natural causes.
Mrs. Hohnke was born April 8, 1913, in Köln, Germany, the daughter of Elizabeth and Cölestine Baumgarten.
She met her future husband, Paul Hohnke, in Germany and corresponded with him for seven years before moving to the United States in 1934.
They married in Milwaukee, and Mrs. Hohnke lived there until 1998 when she moved to the Durango area.
She enjoyed listening to classical music and opera, cooking and spending time with her grandchildren.
She was also a member of the K.G. Rheinischer Verein, which is the Mardi Gras Society of Milwaukee.
She was preceded in death by her husband.
Mrs. Hohnke is survived by her son, Frank Hohnke of Durango; grandchildren Jennifer Kline of Buffalo, Minn., Peter Hohnke, Brad Hohnke and Austin Hohnke, all of Durango; and her great-granddaughter.
Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. Friday at Hood Mortuary. A graveside service will take place at 10 a.m. Saturday at Greenmount Cemetery.
Memorial contributions may be made, in lieu of flowers, to Music in the Mountain Goes to School, PO Box 3751, Durango CO 81302.
Eleanor L. Wertz
Eleanor L. Wertz, of Durango, died Monday, Sept. 1, 2003, at Four Corners Health Care Center in Durango. She was 90.
Mrs. Wertz was born April 8, 1913, in Winona, Mich., the daughter of Matthew and Mary Peterson. She was raised on Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, where she attended a one-room school. She was the daughter of Finnish immigrants, and spoke Finnish at home.
She moved to Chicago, where she married the late Roy C. Wertz. She retired from F.W. Woolworth after 18 years. Then Mrs. Wertz moved to Durango in 1978 to be close to her son and daughter. She enjoyed crocheting and gardening.
"She taught us very young: You work hard and you work together, and you’ll make a life," said Mrs. Wertz’s daughter, Nancy Hamond.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Roy, and her son, George.
Mrs. Wertz is survived by her daughter, Nancy Hamond of Durango; her son, Richard Wertz of Durango; two grandsons, Jeffery Hamond and Michael Hamond, both of Durango; three granddaughters, Sheila Maez of Grand Junction, Sherry Wertz of Durango and Sandra Cheavens of Houston; and many great- and great-great-grandchildren.
A graveside service will take place at 10 a.m. Thursday at Greenmount Cemetery.
Geraldine Ann Mac Lean
Geraldine Ann Mac Lean died Monday, Sept. 1, 2003, at her home in Durango after a battle with cancer. She was 56.
Mrs. Mac Lean was born May 21, 1947, in Plymouth, Mich., to Joseph and Helen Kalvoda. She married Frederick Jerome Mac Lean on July 2, 1994, in Elk Park, Colo. She was a retired Ford Motor Co. employee of 34 years.
Mrs. Mac Lean had taken part in the Ride the Rockies bicycle tour for the past 10 years. She was a cyclist and a bodybuilder. She enjoyed high-impact aerobics, hiking and walking with the neighborhood dogs. She loved the Colorado mountains.
She is survived by her father, Joseph Kalvoda of Brighton, Mich.; her husband, Frederick J. Mac Lean of Durango; her sister, Dr. Sandy Ritland of Flagstaff, Ariz.; her brother, Dr. Don Kalvoda of Brunswick, Maine; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Visitation will be held from 5 to 8 p.m. today at Hood Mortuary. A memorial service will be held at 10 a.m. Thursday at Hood Mortuary.
Memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society.
Ruth Beryl Baker Boucher
Ruth Beryl Baker Boucher, 97, died on Tuesday, Sept. 2, 2003, in La Plata County. She died of natural causes, her family said. She was living at the Durango home of her son, Bob Boucher, at the time of her death.
Mrs. Boucher was born Oct. 21, 1905, in Chula, Mo., the daughter of Almeida Slyh and William Hollister Baker.
She graduated Phi Beta Kappa with a bachelor of science from the University of Missouri in 1925.
She earned a master’s degree in botany from the University of Wisconsin in 1927. Then she taught at Mississippi State College for Women and Mt. Holyoke College in Massachusetts before marrying Robert Boucher Sr. in 1931.
Mr. Boucher preceded his wife in death in 1993.
The Boucher family moved to Durango in 1967. Mrs. Boucher and her husband were skiers and outdoor enthusiasts, enjoying the La Plata Mountains.
As a botanist, Mrs. Boucher enjoyed the state’s wildflowers.
"She was a delightful woman who loved taking her grandchildren up into the La Platas when they were young," said Mrs. Boucher’s daughter-in-law, B.J. Boucher. "She would share information about the birds, wildflowers and rocks, and she always ended the outing with apple juice and cheese."
Mrs. Boucher lived at The Bridge, an assisted-living facility in Farmington, before moving back to Durango.
She is survived by her sons David Boucher of Burlington, Vt., and Robert V. Boucher Jr. of Durango; six grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
There will be no ceremonies. Memorial donations may be made to the Hospice of Mercy Medical Center or The Open Space Conservancy of Durango.
Elizabeth ‘Ilse’ Hohnke
Elizabeth "Ilse" Hohnke, 90, died Tuesday, Sept. 2, 2003, at her home in Durango. She died of natural causes.
Mrs. Hohnke was born April 8, 1913, in Köln, Germany, the daughter of Elizabeth and Cölestine Baumgarten.
She met her future husband, Paul Hohnke, in Germany and corresponded with him for seven years before moving to the United States in 1934.
They married in Milwaukee, and Mrs. Hohnke lived there until 1998 when she moved to the Durango area.
She enjoyed listening to classical music and opera, cooking and spending time with her grandchildren.
She was also a member of the K.G. Rheinischer Verein, which is the Mardi Gras Society of Milwaukee.
She was preceded in death by her husband.
Mrs. Hohnke is survived by her son, Frank Hohnke of Durango; grandchildren Jennifer Kline of Buffalo, Minn., Peter Hohnke, Brad Hohnke and Austin Hohnke, all of Durango; and her great-granddaughter.
Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. Friday at Hood Mortuary. A graveside service will take place at 10 a.m. Saturday at Greenmount Cemetery.
Memorial contributions may be made, in lieu of flowers, to Music in the Mountain Goes to School, PO Box 3751, Durango CO 81302.
